Irish Corned Beef named Great Taste Supreme Champion

06-Sep-2011 - Last updated on 07-Sep-2011 at 08:23 GMT

McCartneys of Moira's corned beef is this year's Great Taste Supreme Champion

A handmade corned beef from Northern Ireland has been named the Supreme Champion over 7500 fine foods at the Great Taste Awards 2011.

The corned beef from McCartneys of Moira was also given three gold stars in the annual awards, plus the title of Best Speciality from Northern Ireland.

Made by McCartneys of Moira since 2007 from a recipe belonging to owner George McCartney’s grandfather, the corned beef has reportedly achieved a following in the local area.

McCartney said: “I’m stunned. I have such a fantastic team with my longest members having been with me for 27 years. I want to pay tribute to the Guild of Fine Food for the amount of effort they put into each producer. As we all know, there is a recession still on and this will really give Northern Ireland the boost it needs and deserves.”

Over 350 chefs, restaurateurs and specialist retail buyers whittled down 7,500 entries to around 2,400 Great Taste Award winners with one, two and three gold stars. Just 114 products were given the coveted three gold stars.

Trophies were awarded to those products deemed impeccable within a number of categories.

The 2011 Great Taste Award winners are:

Supreme Champion and Northern Ireland
Corned Beef, McCartney's of Moira

Wales
Dark Side of the Moose Beer, Purple Moose Brewery

South East
Royal Merina Chocolate, Demarquette Fine Chocolates

South West
Dry-cured Organic Un-smoked Bacon, Duchy

Midlands & East Anglia
Smoked Gammon, Hill Top Smokehouse

Scotland
Traditionally Cured and Oak-smoked Herring, J Lawrie & Sons

Ireland
Yeats Country Organic Full Fat Soft Cheese, Green Pastures (Donegal)

North
Sicilian Pistacchio Ice Cream, Spurreli

Speciality Importer
Oolong Tea, Wan Ling Tea House

Best Ambient
Sweet Raspberry Vinegar, Stratta